Will I get a refurb?

[TauntingBull]

So yesterday my Bionic went a little nuts. It was running hot and constantly restarting. I took it to the VZ store and the rep ordered a replacement via Fed-Ex. I'm supposed to get it sometime on Tuesday.

Question is, will I get a refurb or a new one?

 

[keerf]

If I had to make a guess, I'd say new. I doubt they have refurb units yet. I could be wrong though. Usually it takes a couple months for them to start pushing out refurb units.

 

[TauntingBull]

Come to think of it, How will i know if they send a new or a refurb? Do "New" replacements come in the original box and refurbs in a plain one?

I have never done a warranty replacements with VZ before....

 

[sicario666]

Oh...you'll get a refurb. Trust me. Vzw never sends out new devices. You'd be very lucky if they replaced a new device with a new device. They'll send it via fedex, you'll need a signature confirmation. It'll come in a cardboard sleeve. Refurb. Its a pisser. You buy new,they send used

sent from planet xoom

 

[pauldroidr2d2]

So yesterday my Bionic went a little nuts. It was running hot and constantly restarting. I took it to the VZ store and the rep ordered a replacement via Fed-Ex. I'm supposed to get it sometime on Tuesday.

Question is, will I get a refurb or a new one?

I think it is probably too new still to get one of those wonderful refurbished pieces of garbage. What is VZW's latest term for their refurbished phones? I can't remember.

 

[pwscott]

I would bet you'd get a new one, but if they execute correctly on their processes (which are done by a 3rd party company), you shouldn't be able to distinguish it from brand new. On the other hand, I once received a refurbished Droid X last year and it had all of the previous owner's info intact including pictures, contacts, email etc....hopefully you'll have a good experience.

 

[pauldroidr2d2]

Oh...you'll get a refurb. Trust me. Vzw never sends out new devices. You'd be very lucky if they replaced a new device with a new device. They'll send it via fedex, you'll need a signature confirmation. It'll come in a cardboard sleeve. Refurb. Its a pisser. You buy new,they send used

sent from planet xoom

I've received new replacement devices from VZW.

 

[robm15]

I got mine at costco. They offer 90 day exchanges. New for new. After 90 days i have to take what verzion offers in the event i have a problem.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[leroybrute]

I recieved a certified like new bionic last Monday. So you will not get a new one. It will be wrapped in plastic and cardboard. Hopefully. They slide out of the wrapping once in a while.

 

[PepsiDrinkr16]

They replaced mine with a new one just recieved it on Tuesday. It was in a orginal box just like my first one.

 

[denpad2010]

Well I lost mine and filled insurance claim and received a new one ;-)

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[TauntingBull]

What if even the refurb is bad? i mean what kind of Quality checks does VZ do before sending these things back out?

 

[sicario666]

What if even the refurb is bad? i mean what kind of Quality checks does VZ do before sending these things back out?

Let me share a story with you. Back when I had my X. Which I had numerous problems with. I sent one back because it would randomly power down,and stay off until I noticed. VZW sent me another. Had that one for a few days then it happened again. Went through the whole story all over again...VZW sent another. When I opened this box. The X didn't even turn on... I was redfaced pissed. So I called again and the tech told me that they receive the phones...check them in and send them out to the manufacturer. Get them back and shelf em. When they have to send out a refurb to a loyal VZW customer like yourself...they grab the box on top and ship it out. No quality control... Verizon doesn't service the phones. They're like a middleman.

 

[sicario666]

I recieved a certified like new bionic last Monday. So you will not get a new one. It will be wrapped in plastic and cardboard. Hopefully. They slide out of the wrapping once in a while.

"like New" is a nice way for VZW to say pre-loved/refurbed

 

[1812dave]

Oh...you'll get a refurb. Trust me. Vzw never sends out new devices. You'd be very lucky if they replaced a new device with a new device. They'll send it via fedex, you'll need a signature confirmation. It'll come in a cardboard sleeve. Refurb. Its a pisser. You buy new,they send used

sent from planet xoom

Untrue.

 

[sicario666]

Untrue.

I may just be a special snowflake then.

 

[1812dave]

I may just be a special snowflake then.

Did I say that one might not get a refurb? I said it is untrue that Verizon NEVER sends new phones.

 

[sicario666]

Did I say that one might not get a refurb? I said it is untrue that Verizon NEVER sends new phones.

Oh I wasn't trying to be a jerk. I don't like forum jerks,myself. I've personally never gotten a new device from VZW. Even after buying a new 1 days or weeks before. I have a buddy that works at VZW and he couldn't even pull the strings.

 

[1812dave]

Oh I wasn't trying to be a jerk. I don't like forum jerks,myself. I've personally never gotten a new device from VZW. Even after buying a new 1 days or weeks before. I have a buddy that works at VZW and he couldn't even pull the strings.

I didn't infer that you were (being a jerk)

It really depends on how long a device has been on the market, as to the chances that one may score a new device. I've personally gotten brand new devices as replacements, months after release, so I know from my own experience, that it happens. that's not to imply that it's "likely" or "guaranteed". It's just falls in the realm of "possible".

 

[rockstar323]

Let me fill you guys in on how all this works. I used to work for a company that refurbed phones for asurion and the wireless carriers. After that I worked for a wireless consulting firm and had contacts in Verizon's warehouse that filled me in on how it works.

If you buy a phone and return it because it is defective or broke they send it off to companies to be refurbed. At these companies it's all about production. You have a quota on how many phones you are supposed to refurb a day. It doesn't matter if the phone just needs the software re-flashed or if the screen needs to be replaced, your quota doesnt change. So if it's toward the end of the day and you are running behind you start to rush and some things dont get tested. Even if you're not rushing you only test it for a few min so if it's an intermittent problem you could very easily send the phone on as fixed if the problem didnt present itself in the 5 min you were testing it. These companies refurb phones for insurance companies as well as the carriers. They come in regular brown boxes, usually with no backs or batteries. These are used for warranty and insurance replacements.

If you purchase a phone but take it back for a non defective reason, like if you just didnt like it, Verizon repackages them and uses them as replacements. They normally arent tested, just cleaned up, factory reset and put back in the box. If the device is in perfect condition there is really no way to tell if it's been used or not. Verizon gives these out for warranty replacements.

Verizon will give out new devices if they don't have any refurbs or used devices in stock.

The CS reps have no way to tell which device you will get. The order is sent to the warehouse and the warehouse ships out what they have on hand at the time.